In the Mirrored Moon Café—
"Done."
With a look of confidence on her face, Yao Ying sets down a plate of freshly made youtiao that are shaped perfectly.
Walking over, Zhou'er, who is dressed in a maid uniform, remarks—
"Oh? Those look quite nice."
Performing a taste test together, a look of satisfaction appears on the two's faces.
Off on the other side of the counter—
"There."
Receiving the signed contract that is related to the undertaking of the next ruins excavation from Long Hua, the Owner asks—
"So, nothing this time as well?"
Towards the Owner's expression that is on the unpleasant side, Long Hua shrugs his shoulders, and answers—
"Can't be helped, shit happens."
"Hmm, maybe I should tack some interest on."
"If you feel like it, go ahead."
Picking up his cup, Long Hua sips on a strawberry milk espresso.
Listening to the rainwaters hitting the windows and rooftops of the café, a tranquil sense of mood looms in the air.
"…"
Gradually, Long Hua turns his gaze towards the portable electric stove, as he continues to sip on the hot beverage.
"…"
Turning her gaze towards Long Hua, Tian Cheng, who is seated to the latter's left, asks—
"…Master, are you perhaps thinking of cooking that egg?"
"Oh? You've read my mind."
Raising an eye, the Owner and Zhou'er turns to Long Hua.
"What egg are we talking about here?"
In response to Zhou'er's question, Long Hua takes out the large egg that he had plundered from Xia Chen Hai's storage pouch.
"This one."
"What kind of egg is this?"
Lifting the egg, and knocking on it a few times, the Owner can't help but frown, and remarks—
"The size of this thing is…- About the size of an ostrich's egg."
Towards the Owner's remark, Zhou'er replies—
"Didn't that go extinct a while ago? Like ten decades ago?"
"…"
Drawing closer, Yao Ying looks at the egg with a light of curiosity in her eyes.
"This came from an Immortal, so I doubt it'd belong to anything of this world."
In response to Long Hua's remark, Yao Ying asks—
"Then this is the egg of a magic beast?"
"Magic beast?"
Realizing that she had misspoken, Yao Ying covers her mouth.
Scratching the back of her head, Zhou'er looks at Yao Ying apologetically, and says—
"At this point, you're still going to hide it? It's quite obvious that you're not just some influential household's daughter, Yao Ying."
"…Sorry."
Shrugging her shoulders, Zhou'er replies—
"No need to apologize. Besides, I don't really care."
"Even though I'm an Immortal?"
"Long Hua is the same, isn't he? I don't let small stuff like that bother me."
Setting his cup down, and glancing at Zhou'er, Long Hua remarks—
"Can't tell if you're just naïve, or just too…-"
"If you're going to say stupid, just stop."
Redirecting his focus, Long Hua says—
"Right then, I say—we turn this egg into a meal."
Taking the egg from the Owner, Yao Ying frowns, and says—
"I sense spirit Qi in this egg. There's a living creature in here."
Towards this, Long Hua crudely replies—
"So what? People breed cattle and the likes to eat them. This is hardly any different—simply survival of the fittest."
Simultaneously, the Owner, Zhou'er, and Yao Ying—all look to Long Hua like he's a scum of the earth.
The disdainful light in the first two's eyes couldn't be more obvious, whereas Yao Ying's gaze contains a mix of helplessness—knowing this to be just the way Long Hua is.
"No, no, you can't consider this survival of the fittest. This thing hasn't even been born yet. It's hasn't even entered the jungles…"
Agreeing with Zhou'er, the Owner adds—
"What you're referring to is survival of the assholes. At least give this thing a chance at life."
Tilting her head, Tian Cheng also says—
"I kind of have to agree with them on this, master. The creature in the egg, it hasn't committed any offenses against you, has it?"
Heaving a sigh, Long Hua takes another sip of his espresso, prior to asking—
"If you all are so intent on keeping it alive, go ahead and say that you'd take care of it for life."
In response to this, the Owner and Zhou'er replies—
"I've got a business to run."
"My place doesn't allow anything bigger than a cat or dog. Once this thing grows up, it's bound to be larger than that…"
Adding to those not willing to take responsibility for the creature in the egg, Tian Cheng says—
"Well, knowing that master isn't the sort to keep a pet, I can't say anything either."
Eventually, all eyes turn to Yao Ying, who is holding onto the egg.
"Think carefully now, little girl."
Understanding the meaning behind Long Hua's gaze, Yao Ying looks to the egg.
As someone with baggage herself, taking care of a pet might be a bit much.
Contemplating for a bit, Yao Ying asks—
"You mentioned before that there is a refinement art related to blood?"
"Who did hear this from?"
"Nuo'er heard it from Bai-shao, then informed me of it."
"…"
Setting his cup down, Long Hua explains—
"Its proper name is the blood refinement art. Unlike the soul refinement art, this one is aimed at the physical body, and uses the blood of others—mainly magic beasts, to perform the process. You're planning to raise this thing, and use its blood to strengthen yourself in the future?"
"Un."
Receiving a nod from Yao Ying, Long Hua goes on to say—
"There's no guarantee that whatever magic beast is in this egg will be compatible with you."
"Hmm."
Hearing this, Yao Ying sinks into contemplation.
(*-laoban, this little girl is a Chosen Child of the Heaven, maybe this egg is a fated encounter—in the form of a powerful magic beast?)
"…"
Towards the Tai Xuan Emperor's nonsense, Long Hua decides to ignore it. He refuses to believe in this concept called the Chosen Child of the Heaven.
Unbothered by Long Hua's attitude, the Tai Xuan Emperor adds—
(Ai, I know you're just being salty. You must be asking yourself, "why hasn't there been any fated encounters for me—that can cause me to breakthrough into the next cultivation realm, or why can't I stumble upon a powerful magic treasure, that can let me butcher Immortal realm practitioners like chicken?" It's understandable for you to raise such questions.)
"Ai…"
Shaking his head, Long Hua places a few paper bills on the counter, and leaves with Tian Cheng following after him.
Upon exiting the café, the Tai Xuan Emperor continues to say—
(The reason as to why, I speculate it's because you were a Chosen Child of the Heaven in your previous life. Now that you've moved on from that life, your era as a Chosen Child of the Heaven has passed. At this point, you're nothing more than a fossil—fit to either become the next Chosen Child of the Heaven's cheat, or you end up becoming the Chosen Villain of the Heaven. Assuming you fall into the latter category, you'd just become the Chosen Child of the Heaven's fodder at the end of their journey.)
"…"
Halting his footsteps, Long Hua looks up at the raining skies, and replies—
"Tai Xuan Emperor, all this nonsense—that is coming out of your mouth, it's quite difficult to understand, but I do know that you're cursing at me to die sooner."
(…)
"In any case… Regardless of whether a person is a supposed Chosen Child of the Heaven or not—if they get in my way, I need only remove them from my path."